F-35B crash in Williamsburg County due to ‘pilot error,’ Marine Corps concludes

WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – The United States Marine Corps has completed its investigation into an F-35B Lightning II aircraft that crashed into the woods in Williamsburg County last year.

The fighter jet was traveling over North Charleston on Sept. 17, 2023, when the pilot safely ejected from the aircraft while trying to execute a climbout during rainy conditions, officials said. The pilot was later found on South Kenwood Drive near Joint Base Charleston.

Responders took the pilot to the hospital, and he was in stable condition.

After the pilot ejected, the jet continued to fly on autopilot for 11 minutes and 21 seconds before crashing in a rural wooded area off Old Georgetown Road in Williamsburg County.

Authorities discovered the ‘extensive’ debris field on Sept. 18, 2023, around 4:45 p.m.

“The investigation concluded that the mishap occurred due to pilot error,” Maj. Joseph C. Leitner for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a release.

Officials continued, “The pilot incorrectly diagnosed an out-of-controlled flight emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft, albeit during a heavy rainstorm compounded with aircraft electrical and display malfunctions.”

The pilot’s decision to eject was deemed inappropriate because commanded-flight inputs were in progress when they ejected, the standby flight instrumentation was putting out correct data, and the backup radio was, at minimum, partially functioning.

Air station officials said an electrical event during the flight “which induced failures of both primary radios, the transponder, the tactical air navigation system, and the instrument landing system; and the probability that the helmet-mounted display and panoramic cockpit display were not operational for at least three distinct periods,” caused the pilot to become confused under the conditions.

The electrical malfunction was not due to ineffective maintenance. The reason the aircraft was able to continue its flight was because of advanced automatic flight-control systems, Maj. Leitner wrote.

The F-35B’s loss of positive radar contact was attributed to the failed transponder, low-observable technology, and eventual descent below the air traffic control radar.

Randolph White, a Williamsburg County man who was shaving when he heard the crash, later went viral for his detailed description of the event.

Crews with the Navy Region Southeast On-Scene Coordinator program, which is based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, arrived on Sept. 19, 2023 to recover and remove the wreckage. Specialists were also brought in to determine any impact on the surrounding area.

Cleanup efforts were completed about a month later in October with the wreckage completely removed and the area determined to be free of contaminants.